Oil and gas well pressure control



Aug. 8, 1950 .J. M. GILLESPIE OIL AND GAS WELL PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Oct. 21, 1948 John M. Gillespie INVENTOR.

Aug. 8, 1950 J. M. GILLESPIE 2,517,655

OIL AND GAS WELL PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Oct. 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 John M. Gillespie INVENTOR.

BY Quad-3 l w FM 8, 1950 J. M. GILLESPIE 2,517,655

- OIL AND GAS WELL PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Oct. 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 84 Fig.3. 84

John M. Gillespie IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 8, 1950 J. M. GILLESPIE on. AND GAS WELL PRESSURE CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 21, 1948 R m H W.

Attorneys Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES 01E ANDEGAS WEIiL PRESSURE CONTROL. John M. Gillespie, Oklahoma City, Okla assignor' City, Okla.

one-half to John N. Anderson, Oklahoma,

Applicaticnflctober 21, 1948, SerialNo; 55,747

9 Claims. 1

This invention comprises novel and useful improvementsin an oil and, gas wellpressure con,- trol and more specifically pertains to a device, which may be attached to and form a part of the well casing, and which serves asa pressure sealduring operation of the well, and facilitates the insertion into the well and, the withdrawal from the well of drilling or other tools carried by the drilling rig, without releasing the pressure maintained in thewell.

The primary purpose of. this invention is. to facilitate the removal of drilling and servicing tools from an oil or gas welLrwhile the well is producing, withoutreleasing. thepressure of the well or allowing the well to flow withoutwcontrol, during the removal of toolstherefrom.

A further purpose of the invention isto provide an improved sealingmeans for the drilling cable of a well for preventing the loss of pressure from the well through the cable openin and yet which will permit the easy withdrawal of the cable and tools from the well as desired. l

A further object of the invention is toprjovide a pressure sealin means which is automatically released when the cable and tools carried thereby are withdrawn from the well, without the neces sity for releasing the pressure from the well or permitting the well to flow without control thereof.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this, device, a preferred em bodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, a part being broken away, of a well casing showing the pressure control device applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the pressure control device of Figure 1, the clamp latch being shown in dotted lines in its released position;

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the novel pressure control device;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View, taken substantially upon the plane or the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and showing the lower clamp and its latch; T

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional VHBW, taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 5-5 of Figure 3 and showing further details of the lower clamp and latch construction;

Figure 6 is a side elevational detailed view of the device, parts being broken away to show the clamp release mechanism;

Figured is a horizontalsectional detailed view, takensubstantially upon the plane of the section line ls-1 of Figure fi showing details of the latch release mechanism;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional detailed view through the latch construction;

Figure-9 is a group. assembly perspective view of a retaining: ring formingra partof the mech: anism;.and

Figure 10 is a horizontalsectional view taken substantiallyupon, the" plane ofthe section, line l -El--l ll of. Figure 1- Referring now more; specifically tothe accompanyin drawings, wherein like numeralsdesige nate similar parts throughout, the variousviews, thenumeral l0, indicates aflwell. casing or. tubing which extends intoa formation l2,to, form an oil or gas well of any desired type. This casing is provided witha customaryw gate valve indicated generally by the numeral lmwhichlikewise may be of any known and-.conventionaldesign. Operable within the casing l0 andthe. device attached thereto andforming thevsubject of this invention, is-a conventional well drilling cable: 1 6, which may be provided witha customary drilling head l8, or any other desired tool for operationwithin the casing and well bore.

Secured to the gate' valve I4 is a sleeve 20 forming a continuation-of the well casing lllrand which adjacent its upper end is provided-with a pipe or conduit 2 lby means of which the flow of gasor oil is withdrawn from the well.

Secured to the upper end' of the casing 20 isa flanged bushing or coupling member 22: which is secured to a similar flange 24, asby means of fastening bolts 26, aspacingsleeve 28 being positioned between the: two, flanges 22 and 24,, and secured to one or the otherof the flanges as by welding or the like,, to provide an annularly diametrically enlarged: chamber within which is received a hollow rubbing packing ring 3!) whose inner diameter when in its collapsed position is not greater than the inner diameter of the casing sections In and ZlLwhereby a string of tools may be passed through the packing 3.0 as desired.

A fluid pressure supply conduit 32 of any desired construction conducts fluid pressure from any desired source to the interior of the expansible packing member 3!), whereby the latter maybe radially expanded to reduce its internal diameter until the latter is constricted upon a string of tools as the same are passed upwardly or downwardly in the casin sections.

Integrally carried by the upper flange12 l is a further sleeve 38 likewise of substantially or .larged annular flange 46.

slightly greater diameter than that of the casing sections In and Zil, which has an integral flange 38 at its upper end which by means of fastening bolts 40 is secured to a corresponding similar flange 42 at the lower end of a sleeve 44, Whose upper end is provided with a diametrically en- Supported upon the flange 45 is a split sleeve clamping assembly of a construction to be now described and which forms an essential feature of the invention.

As shown in Figure 4, this split clamp sleeve construction comprises a pair of diametrically divided sleeve sections 48 and 5B, which at their lower ends are provided with integral semi-circular flanges 52, which overlie and slide upon the upper surface of the flange 46, being sealed thereagainst as by an annular packing ring 54, see Figure 5, which is formed in the annular groove in the upper surface of the flange 46. The flanges 52 are pivotally slidable upon flange 46 about a vertically extending hinge bolt 56 which is offset from and parallel to the central axis of the aligned sleeve sections Iii, 20, 36 and M, the rear ends of the flanges being cut away as at 53 to provide a clearance for the pin 56.

The complementary sleeve sections 48 and 50 have frusto-conical ribs or partitions 5? which support axially disposed drums 58 forming a chamber within which is received a cylindrical extensible rubber seal or sealing member 69. Similarly, a vertically spaced partition 62 supports an axial hollow drum 64, within the interior of which is positioned a second hollow cylindrical rubber seal or sealing member 56. As will be understood,

the series of partitions forming and supporting the two chambers for the sealing means are divided along the same vertical, diametrical plane as the sleeves 48 and 5E! and the flanges 52 whereby the entire sleeve, flange sleeve and partition assembly may be opened about the hinge 56 to obtain access to the interior of the device.

As will be further understood, the hollow, extensible, rubber or similar sealing members 60 and 66 are likewise split along their vertical central planes, and the individual semi-cylindrical seal sections retained in the corresponding sections of the compartments 58 and 64, whereby the entire assembly may be readily released from or clamped upon the cable It which passes therebetween. Fluid pressure is supplied at will by means of a fluid conduit 68 and a branch conduit 10 Within the sleeve sections 48 and 5D, to apply fluid pressure to the interior of the sealing members 6t and 66, to thereby expand the same into compressive engagement upon the cable It to tightly seal the latter against the passage of fluid pressure. A further conduit I2 communicates with the space between the partitions 59 and 62, within the interior of the sleeve sections 48 and 59, to withdraw any leakage of oil or gas which may pass by any of the above mentioned sealing means while a similar conduit I3 extends into the casing section 36 above the seal 30.

As will be more readily seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3, the top of the semi-circular sleeve sections 48 and 59 are provided with semicircular top closures I4 and I6, having axial openings 78 through which the above mentioned drill cable H5 is passed, and through which this cable reciprocatesduring operation of the well drilling mechanism.

Extending laterall from each of the sleeve sections 33 and Wand adjacent their top covers "I4 and 16,-are shafts-80 and 82, which are screw threaded at their extremities to receive loc g bolts 84 for retaining the shafts in place, there being provided tubular spacers 86 upon the shafts to centrally position guide pulleys 88 for free rotation thereon, these pulleys facing each other to axially guide and retain the cable I6 therebetween.

It will thus be seen that as the two sections are opened by a'means to be subsequently set forth, the sections 48 and 58 will open, the packing chambers 58 and 64 will be opened, the expansible packing 60 and 66 will open, While the guide bushings 88 will likewise be opened with their respective sections, to thereby permit the cable and any tools associated therewith to be withdrawn from the open upper end of the device.

As shown in Figure 2, the upper portions of the sleeve sections 48 and 50 are provided with integral or rigidly attached hinge and lever arms QS and 92, hinged upon the hinge pin 56, and provided at their outer ends with a latch or clamping means for holding the section assembly in its closed position. The construction of this latching means which is identical with the latching means for the lower clam s of the split sleeve construction, will be set forth hereinafter.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 and 9, it will be seen that the flange assembly 46 and 52 is provided with a channel-shaped clamping member consisting of the channel-shaped semi-circular sections 94 and 96, the former having laterally enlarged bosses 98 at its rear end, which are apertured as at IM to receive the hinge pin 56. The other channel member 95 at its rear end is provided with bosses M2 which are aperturedas at I94 for similar reception of the hinge pin 55. The bosses I02 are received within the bosses 98 for hinged movement therein as will be apparent from Figure 3, and the channel-like interior of the two members 94 and 96 provides an annular chamber which snugly but slidingly receives the annular flanges 52 and 46 therein, to thereby retain the flanges in assembled position and prevent longitudinal displacement thereof.

At their outer or forward ends, the channel members 94 and 9B are provided with bosses I 636 and I 38, the former being apertured as at I I0 while the latter is provided with a radially extending shoulder portion H2.

The clamping means for retaining the members 94 and 96 together and the members 9!! and 92, are of identical construction as set forth hereinbefore, and consist as shown in Figure 8 of a first link member indicated generally by the numeral H4 and which comprises upper and lower links H6 and H8 which are pivotally secured as by a hinge pin I29, to the above mentioned lever arm 96 of the upper clamp and also to the apertures Mil inthe lower clamp member 94. At their outer extremities, the link members H6 and H8 are pivotally connected as by a pin I2! with a locking member indicated generally by the numeral H22, which is of U-shaped construction, having upper and lower arms I24 and l 25 which respectively embrace the links I I6 and H8, and are pivotally connected thereto, the bight or mid-portion of the U-shaped member I22 being internally screw threaded to receive a locking screw I28 which rotatably carries and has afiixed to its headed inner end I38, a locking block I32 which is slidably received between the members Hi3 and H8, and is provided with a longitudinal slot 134 which is slidable upon the above mentioned pin lZL; The inner end of the block 32 has a locking surface or shoulder I36 earnest clamps90 and 92, together with the lower clamp channel members 94 and 95, are closed asshown in Figures 2, 4, amid, the locking surface I I36 of the locking block I32 engages the locking shoulders H2 and I38 of the clamp members and bymeans of the thumb screws I28, the clamps are tightened and the split sleeve assembly is retained in tightly closed and sealed position.

Obviously, the clamping device could be loosenedby merely reversing the procedure, and releasing the thumb screws of the upper and lower clamp members, whereupon the clamp sections could be pivoted about thehinge pins 120 and 'IZI, to manually release the clamp at any time the said is desired. However, it is preferred to rovide a means which is automatically actuatable by upward movement of the drill stem cable and the tools .carriedthereby, for releasing the latching clamps. For this purpose, a clamp releasing element is provided in therformv of a frusto-conical member I40, see Figures 4,5 and *6, which is attached to the cable M6 in any convenient manner and at any desired point along its length but preferably in close proximity to the drilling head I8 01' other tools carriedby the cable, for a purpose tobe now set forth.

As will be seen in Figure 6, the member I40 provides a cone-shaped -cam surface which upon upward movement of the cable and member I40 constitutes a cam operating means for releasing by means of a mechanism to be now described, the above mentioned upper and lower latch assemblies.

Extending through the wall of the frusto-conical partition member 5! and of the upper split sleeve section 50", is a tubular guide bushing I42 provided with a sealing and packing gland construction indicated generally by the numeral IM, and through which is slidably disposed an actuating plunger I46 positioned, as shown in Figure 6,

in the path of upward movement of the cam actuating member I40 whereby as the member I40 passes the end of the plunger I46, the latter will be urged radially outwardly of the tubular guide bushing I42.

At its outer end, the plunger I46 has rigidly attached thereto an appropriately shaped plate I48 which has a vertically disposed latch release bar I50 carried thereby. This release bar I50, see Figures 6 and 7, loosely received but guided for a combined radial and axial movement in the open upper guide channel portion I52 of a radially and longitudinally extending web I53 carried by the sleeve 50, and a lower channel I55 01' a web I5'I carried in the section 44, and in corresponding notches I54 in the peripheries of c the flanges 46 and 5 2, these notches being positioned adjacent the latch members I22, whereby upon radial and axial movement of the latch release bar I50, the U-shaped sections I22 will be pivoted about their pins 82! as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, to thereby cause disengagement of the locking block I32 from the locking shoulders I38 and H2, whereby the entire split sleeve assembly may be opened about the hinge 56.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the split sleeve clamping assembly will be readily understood and further explanation relative thereto is believed to be unnecessary.

The operation of the device, when it is desired to withdraw a drill stem with its associated tools from a-well borejis as follows: It'is assumed that the well is flowing, the product thereof "being withdrawn through the outlet conduit 2| in the usual and customary manner. As the cable IS with the associated tools is raised from its operative position within the casing I0, the expansible packings 66 and 8!] and the member30 are :expanded by admitting fluid pressure into their hollow interiors by means of the conduits-68 :and

32. Thus, the packings tightly grip the cable I6 to prevent loss of pressure, .011 or gas through these openings as the cable is withdrawn and the tools are raised. During this time, the 'oil or gas as above mentioned is being withdrawn through the conduit 2| to storage tanks, separators or any other desired location.

After the tools, such as the drill head I8 as shown in Figure 3, have passed the gate valve -I 4, the latter is closed to prevent any furtherupward flow of gas or oil fromthewell casing. At this time, the pressure supplied to the expansible seal '30 by the conduit 32 under control .of the valve 34 may 'be released. The cable and .tools continue their upward motion until the actuating or release cam Hit now engages the plunger M5, and causes the associated mechanismto release the upper and'lower clamps of .the split sleeve constructiomwhereupon the entire upper assembly is released and may be openedby engagement of the cam M0 with .the partition 51, to permit the removal of the cables and :tools from the upper casing section. Of. course, .itiis to be understood that the pressure supplied to the sealing members by the conduit 68 is released just prior to the actuation of the clamp releasing mechanism by the conical cam cone I40.

lhe procedure is reversed when desired to in troduce the cable and a string of tools into the well bore.

It is to be particularly noted that any desired number of the expansible sealing means may be employed wherever desired, and further that the upper expansible sealing members 84 and may be employed at all times if desired to prevent leakage of fluid and pressure from a Well bore through the sliding connection of the cable It with the associated casing parts.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be read ily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope oi" the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A safety drilling-in head for well casings comprising a well casing sleeve extension mounted on a well casing, said extension including relatively movable semi-cylindrical sleeve sections joining on a diametrical plane of the casing extension, upper and lower pairs of clamp members carried by each sleeve section, a common hinge for one end of said clamp members and. a clamp latch mechanism for the other ends of said clamp members, said clamp latch mechanism having a latch releasing actuator extending into said extension for operation by a predetermined position of the drilling cable therein.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein s id clar'np latch mechanism includes a clamp latch oted thereto, a second link terminally pivoted to said first link, a shoulder on the other clamp member of each pair, a latch block slidably and pivotally carried by one of said links for engagement'with said shoulder, said latch release mechanism being operatively engageable with said second link.

4. The combination of claim 1 including complementary sealing partitions carried by said sleeve sections, expansible complementary sealing elements mounted in said partitions and fluid pressure means for actuating said sealing elements.

5. The combination of claim 4 including parallel anti-friction cable guide members mounted I one in each of said sleeve sections.

6. The combination of claim 1 including parallel. anti-friction cable guide members mounted one in each of said sleeve sections.

'7. In combination, a well casing having a drilling cable reciprocable therein and a pair of complementary casing sections including a horizontally swingable casing section pivoted to the other of said complementary casing sections for movement about a hinge parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing to open and closed positions, cable packing and pressure sealing means in said casing including complementary portions carried by said pivoted section, a latching mechanism for retaining said pivoted section in its closed position, a latch release cam secured to said cable and a release actuator connected with said latching mechanism and slidable through said casing for actuation by said release cam.

8. The combination of claim '7 wherein said latching mechanism includes a horizontally movable latch member pivoted to said pivoted section, a vertically movable latch release bar engageable with said latch member for causing release thereof said release actuator being connected with said release bar.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a longitudinally disposed guide channel carried by said casing for guiding said release bar for longitudinal and outward movement relative to said casing.

JOHN M. GILLESPIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,369,913 Brunhoff Mar. 1, 1921 1,986,284 Penick et a1 Jan. 1, 1935 2,054,337 Penick et al Sept. 15, 1936 2,306,617 Dick Dec. 29, 1942 2,353,412 Miller July 11, 1944. 

